Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to announce investments in energy and infrastructure during a visit to India and Pakistan in coming days as part of his efforts to wean the Saudi economy off oil exports.

Venture capitalists are looking to back entrepreneurs in cities such as Jaipur and Kochi in order to find these products and services that can unlock the vast but scattered potential of small-town India.

Several venture capital professionals, and founding members of leading VC firms, are setting up their own firms as investors look to back smaller funds, hoping their nimbler approach will deliver bigger returns.

Indian companies have been involved in deals worth a record $97.6 billion this year. Top banker JPMorgan Chase & Co. is predicting more offshore interest in the nation, particularly in technology, media and telecom.

India's $2.3 trillion equity market has surged in recent years, and is about to get a new endorsement from the nation's pension regulator. India's equity culture may also get a boost from a stewardship code to be rolled out for the country's fund managers to push for corporate-governance best practices.